The Cultural Heritage Office says it is just awaiting the decision of the Puerto Plata Municipality to start work to turn three streets adjacent to the city’s town square into a pedestrian shopping and entertainment area. The plan is to create a special attraction for tourists staying at all-inclusive resorts in the Puerto Plata area to come to the city. German Camarena Gomez, director of the cultural heritage office, said that walkways would be established on the Jose del Carmen Ariza, Beller and Separación streets that lead to Independence Park and the city square. Furthermore, he said they are also waiting on clearance from the municipality to start work on an ambitious project to convert the La Puntilla area adjacent to the San Felipe Fort into another area attractive entertainment area. A restaurant, museum, amphitheater and other attractions would be built into the area. The projects were presented on 20-30 June at the Casa de Cultura of Puerto Plata during an event where the cultural heritage office lead a discussion on the need to create an awareness of the importance of preserving the Victorian period buildings in the city. (3 July 2001)
